The BMJ this week carries a strong attack on medical education providers in Australia saying that contrary to their claims of independence they are providing doctors with ‘marketing masquerading as
education’.
In an article on ‘the invisible influence’ in doctor’s education, BMJ visiting editor Ray
Moynihan says leaked emails show that drug companies are being allowed to determine the
speakers and topics at medical education events accredited by august associations.
The material, to be presented on an ABC Background Briefing program this weekend, is said to show that three pharmaceutical companies were able to ensure their preferred speakers were chosen for
education seminars organised by a company HealthEd.
Mr Moynhihan, who is also a lecturer in the faculty of Health at the University of Newcastle,
says the material also provides proof that the sponsors were able to ensure the speakers and
topics were “on message”.
He says doctors are generally unaware of the likely bias in the content of what they perceive
to be high quality educational events.
“Oversight of these educational events is currently a self-regulatory affair, and medical associations everywhere seem uninterested, at this stage, in guaranteeing genuine
independence from industry influence.,” he writes.
But the managing director of HealthEd, Dr Ramesh Manocha rejects any suggestion that educational events were not independent. He tells the BMJ that any requests about meeting content from industry sponsors are filtered through independent working groups and scientific committees.
Dr Peter Mansfield, a South Australian GP who is also head of the anti-drug promotion lobby group Healthyskepticism.
org says medical education should be funded by taxpayers rather than commercial sponsors.

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